Accommodation: $3235.50 (6 days of caravan parks recently blows out the total)
Lattes: $1311.25
Eventually it was time to move on and we went to Kawana Island near Mooloolaba to visit with Julie's friend Vita, who almost became her sister in law, and that was near enough for Julie to say she is her sister in law. We got to sleep in a real bed (thanks Abby for giving up your bed for us and sleeping on the fold out bed).
The night we arrived Vita had organised a feast and Vita's daughter Samantha and her husband Davin came over with their boxer, Harken.
In the morning we went for a walk with Vita along the canal and over the bridge for a swim at the beach. It was here a seed was planted in Glen's head that they needed body boards as the waves were pretty hard to catch. After a shower we went with Vita, Abby and Samantha up the mountains to Maleny where Glen had coffee and gelato at Colin James Ice Cream. They weigh the coffee there. The river that runs through town (supposedly) has platypus but we didn't see any. What we did see was lots of water dragons of varying sizes as wee crossed the river to check out the markets. Our next stop was Montville which easily rivals Eimeo Hotel as the best view in Australia. We missed the lunch service so had cake and coffee with an amazing backdrop. That night we had roadkill (flat) chicken and lots of wine.
A school day for Abby the next day so we started with coffee at Vita's new work where she was to start later in the week and when she turned off to take Abby to school we drove up the coast and had a swim at Coolum Beach. Here the waves were easy to catch and a backpacker wanted to know how Glen caught waves as he was impressed that Glen flew past him while he struggled to be carried more than a  few metres. At Noosa we went for a walk through the National Park to the practically deserted Tea Tree Bay beach where the waves were again hard to catch. Glen had been hanging out for waves all the way down the coast as we haven't had any since mid-way up Western Australia due to the reefs - and he hasn't had a go at kite surfing which looks exciting and is popular in the areas protected from the swell. It was during our walk through the shops at Noosa that the seed of an idea germinated when Glen saw how cheap a body board could be. Who cares if he rarely uses it?
The following day we jumped in the car to drive 100km to Brisbane to see Glen's daughter Brooke play softball. We hadn't seen her for 11 months so it was nice of the navy to send her (almost) to us. We watched her play 2 games then drove back to Mooloolaba that night. We got back a little late to do anything so had a quiet night with a couple of drinks.
On the Wednesday we attended  a presentation for Classic Holidays in the morning and won a weeks holiday for $199 then drove to Brisbane to watch Brooke in the afternoon. She was off for most of the game so we only got to see one at bat and an innings at third before lightning stopped play. It pelted down and Julie got soaked on her way to the car. Back at Vita's we went out for Thai food and had a good night with Vita, Samantha and Abby. More wine :0 Brooke got picked to play in the ADF v Brisbane Reps game on the Saturday.
Brooke's birthday was the next day and we would have loved to spend time with her but she was working playing softball and her time wasn't her own. Glen had a guy come to put on the new gas struts on the trailer At 1400N (140kg) to compress them and the heavy floor of the camper to struggle with it wasn't worth the risk doing it ourselves. Turns out Glen had to use the high lift jack to compress the struts as the guy couldn't do it with his equipment. He did have a tool to hold it compressed but that scratched the paint off the strut… bugger than reminds me I have to touch up the paint so it doesn't rust… After a swim in Vita's pool we went out to the shops and bought a couple of boogie boards! before going out that night for fish and chips in Mooloolaba. Vita's son, Andrew, who went to Moorebank High came for a visit that evening. Early the next morning we set off for Brisbane once again to watch Brooke play. Brooke's safe hands at first made a few outs but the rep players were all so good and after an hour the mercy rule was applied. They all had a good time and softball was the winner anyway :)
We left Brooke with her colleagues and went back to Vita's and introduced the family to the joys of a K-Mart run. Julie set the $2 challenge and Abby embraced the concept. Vita was slow to start but ended up scooping the pool with a number of rounds by having the item voted as best. A fun afternoon where, while many were left behind, a few bargains were acquired as being must haves. It's amazing how you didn't even know you needed it before it was for sale in K-Mart for $2. Samantha actually found things she really needed for more than $2 and came home with three stools for her kitchen.
The next morning we got up relatively early (bloody early for us and did you realise Qld hasn't got daylight saving and it's light before 5am so we wake up that time but thankfully fall asleep again?) and went to the beach to try out the new boogie boards! Julie did pretty well but Glen still needs some practice. We met Vita and family for coffee before stocking up at the shops. Vita was home from work when we got back so we hitched up the camper and said our goodbyes and headed off. We had a great time and stayed much longer than we had originally planned. Our camp that night was at Beenleigh. In the morning we decided to duck into Beenleigh shopping centre which is next door to the free camp as we forgot to buy a couple of buckets for the oil change when we were at the shops the day before. STUPIDLY they have height restriction bars over their acres of open air parking. Why would a place so close to a free camp exclude the grey nomads and their caravans and 4wd owners from their car parks? Surely that's a lot of their business.
Driving down the coast with no real plan as usual we decided to detour to Springbrook as the sign indicated they have waterfalls. Julie is a bit partial to waterfalls after a bushwalk down waterfall way early in our courting… Waterfalls were why we bought a 4WD after the "loved that car but zero ground clearance" Peugeot couldn't cross a creek on our way to see Tianjara Falls via the Wandandian Road but I digress… We drove up into the mountains and found the Springbrook area to be beautiful. There are steep drops giving rise to a number of waterfalls and stunning lookouts with views to the coast and the incredulously tall buildings perched by the sea. One lookout is called "Best of All Lookout" and that's a pretty big call when close by is Wunburra Lookout, Canyon Lookout, Hardy's Lookout and Purling Brook which Glen liked best. Stopping at the old school reveals a stump of a 1000 year old tree cut down by hand in a morning by 2 guys as it was too close to the school built just a year before. Incredibly fit guys but no thought from the school builders who could have moved the school 50m and this 1000 year old tree would be alive today. They were loggers not environmentalists and in most areas of the country our only surviving old trees are the ones deemed to imperfect to log. Interestingly the Queensland Secretary of Forests in the early 1900s purposely set aside vast tracts of land to remain untouched for the following generations of children. Rainbow and Twin Falls were flowing and picturesque but from pictures in flood they can be impressive too. Goomoolahra Falls has the reputation as the wettest picnic area in the country with 3m of rainfall annually. It was warm and sunny while we were there but we had a thunderstorm that night while camped at nearby Mount Nimmel Lodge.
It was at Mount Nimmel that we packed up wet for only the third time in this year of camping. Heading back to the coast we dropped in to Elephant Rock at Currumbin Beach. It was blowing a gale! We sheltered in the surf club café for coffee and cake as the wind howled at the windows and sand blew down the beach. On top of Elephant Rock the wind was making the uprights in the aluminium railing vibrate like guitar strings and the resonant sound increased with each strong gust. Back in NSW now and following our Top 101 Beaches book our next stop was Norries Head. From the headland the water looked very inviting so we walked down to the beach. As we stood in the water two fighter jets flew low and fast past the headland. The planes would have passed about 20m away from where we stood just 10 minutes before. Bugger, that would have been fantastic! Rainbow Bay Beach was next on the agenda before free camping at Yelgun. The next day we went to Brunswick Heads and visited the bakery on the advice of fellow campers, surfed at the beach then swam in the river where the water was crystal clear BUT the water is noticeably cooler now as we head south even allowing for the rain and wind. Glen would like to stay here in the future and we almost doubled back to stay here but the caravan parks were expensive, not that nice and not on the beach. :(
In Byron Bay we dropped in to Byron Music to see ex Moorebank teacher, Nick Sergi. In spite of him being an inspiring teacher with accolades from staff and students he gave it up and bought a music shop in Byron Bay. Pleasingly the sea change was fantastic for him and he hasn't looked back! The business has grown, he has added a music school and even has a recording studio. Also way cool is the company car - a kombi van! We were also fortunate enough to meet Nick's lovely wife and child while we were there. He seems to be living the dream too, it's just his dream doesn't have a camper trailer attached.
After checking out Suffolk Park beach we drove through to Ballina and had dinner in the pub as it was raining. On our way to the rest area we photographed the giant prawn, which is pretty much obligatory.
Oil change the following morning, luckily it had stopped raining and we were camped on bitumen and didn't have any puddles to contend with.
With rain and thunderstorms predicted for the next few days we decided to hole up in a caravan park with the awning up. But where? Glen wanted to stop at Brunswick Heads but we ended up at Evans Heads. Glen's uncle used to run the caravan park there in the late 60s. Glen could have sworn the river was the other side of the park. It's nothing like what he remembered (assuming we've got the right park as there is only one in town) but the many years since that one day he spent there must have clouded his memory - either that or the quantity of alcohol we've consumed. We spent the afternoon at the beach and that evening we got hammered with a thunderstorm which dumped huge quantities of water on the roof and under it with the wind. We battened down the hatches and, after offering help to fellow campers who's tarp had collapsed, retreated inside where we stayed dry. It was dry the next day and the cloud had disappeared by lunch time. We did the lookout, had coffee and bought some meat. We swam and relaxed. We slept and walked and we surfed the waves on our boogie boards. We even did some baking in the oven in the camp kitchen. Brownies and the best banana cake ever! Being a North Coast Holiday Park we decided to actually plan the next few days as our 7th night would be free if we stayed in one of their parks. Nambucca Heads and Forster here we come! Free camps are few and far between here if you like to stay at a beach.
Sunday we packed up and left Evans Heads. On our drive down the coast we stopped in at Iluka. Nice little town and a fish shop with genuine 1970s prices! $5.50 for fish and chips!
We are currently camped at the Headlands Caravan Park at Nambucca Heads in a lovely shaded spot. It's a fair walk down the hill to the beach but it's a lovely quiet park, well maintained with lots of gardens and grass. No idea why this isn't packed as the park at Evans Head was filling up more and more when we stayed. Fresh prawns and steak for dinner after a walk along the V Wall this afternoon. The V Wall is the breakwater but it is covered in art work from passers-by. Had to put a jumper on at night… We are getting too far south! :(

Accommodation: $3017.50
Lattes: $1220.25
Arriving at Finch Hatton township we turned off toward the gorge not really knowing what to expect. When we got there we had to turn the camper in the bus turn area and park well down the road with about an 800m walk to the end of the road where the walking track begins. There were quite a few cars. We found from the information board that the walk in to the Araluen Cascades was a few km and the track to the Wheel of Fire was even longer - and we were in thongs expecting a stroll. All the people we passed in the first 400m were in shoes or walking boots. Luckily even though parts were a bit steep and had Julie puffing it was a well formed track and easily done in thongs. At the track junction we decided to visit Araluen Cascades first. We found lots of people there but it wasn't crowded. Many were jumping from the rocks into the water. Impressively one guy even did one of those lay out 360 degree flips to land feet first from a tree branch about 15m above the water. The water was cooler than we've been used to but still quite comfortable. A few locals thought it was cold. After a while we left but didn't go on to the Wheel of Fire.
Driving further down the coast we decided to camp near Ilbilbie at a place called Notch Point. It had been recommended to us by Larry, a guy we met at Mareeba. On driving in Julie chatted to a couple of guys who had been there for weeks and got the lay of the land. They were looking at a tawny frogmouth on a nest. The nest was in a horizontal fork about 2m above the ground. The mother was sitting in the nest surrounded by 3 chicks of varying ages. The male was sitting on a nearby branch. All the birds including the chicks were pretending to be sticks and you could get close without appearing to disturb them. Over the next couple of days Julie got some great shots. We set up camp next to where the water would be because at low tide the water was miles away. The guys assured Julie the area was croc free, but the midgies were an issue and we were visited by the cows at sunset. What they said about the midgies turned out to be true but the croc part was refuted by a guy who'd been there for months and had been going there for years. Apparently a 14 footer used to raid crab pots at the mangroves 50m from us. He said it lived at the other boat ramp a km or so up but he hadn't seen it, only heard it. We explored the point, going to where the ocean meets the point and saw birds that fly in flocks around the rocks where they were perched en mass. Even though we got a good photo of the birds identification has eluded us. That night was the "super moon" and the clouds parted long enough to enable us to get a photo with  the iPhone through the binoculars.
The next day we moved on to Rockhampton and found out that the air con pulley that fell of, being the harmonic balancer, was apparently a big deal. Luckily a place just across the road from the shopping centre we were at could do it that afternoon at just over $900. Picked up the Fun Truck and they told us that they had trouble lining the belts up again. We drove out of town, getting water and having a shower on the way, and free camped near the Byfield State Forest turn off. The next day we drove to Upper Stoney Creek and were disappointed so we didn't swim there and drove further. We were heading to 5 Rocks and the track became sandy. We took the opportunity to park the trailer on the side of the track when we aired down with the sign warning us to radio on channel 40 that we were heading up Big Sandy. We had no idea what Big Sandy was but soon discovered it was about a 1km climb up a sand hill. We had to air down further because the sand was soft. There was no way we would have gotten the trailer up there but without it we got up without too much trouble. In some sections of the track after Big Sandy the track had wooden slats chained together to stabilise the dune and allow easier access. At the track junction we went to Stockyard Point instead of 5 Rocks Campground and were rewarded with a spectacular view. There were probably 40 houses in the town of Stockyard Point and their only road access is 4wd through some beautiful forest. As time was getting away from us we skipped 5 Rocks and Nine Mile Beach entirely and went back down Big Sandy to pick up the trailer and head out to camp. Just before dusk we decided to stop and Water Park Creek Campground (no, not really a water park, the creek goes out to Water Park Point at the far end of Nine Mile Beach and there's no water park there either). There we saw Wompoo Fruit doves and spent a peaceful night under the stars and the super moon and spotted a brush tailed phascogale.
We weren't happy with the alignment of the AC fanbelt so we went back to Highway Auto to get it done properly. The owner wasn't happy and tried to put us off several times but after spending over $900 we weren't being fobbed off. In the end the guy we dealt with first put it the way Glen wanted and it lined up pretty close to perfect, much better than the 15mm out of alignment they had it. That done we explored the quay area for lunch before getting the gas leak  we recently discovered on the camper repaired and leaving town. Around dusk we arrived at Agnes Waters and had a look at the beach before going to the cheap camp nearby at Workmens Beach. It was full but we were approached by the ranger who allowed us to camp in the day use area overnight. The following day we went for a drive and turned down a track which lead us to a car park and a walk to Springs Beach where the surf was terrible and all the surf schools were just sitting on the beach waiting. Good for a swim though. After a rinse off in the carpark we drove back out to the road and wandered along the Reedy Creek Reserve Paperbark Forest Walk. Highlights were the raised stepping stones and a climbing maidenhair fern. Our next stop was 1770 - the only town name with no letters in it - for lunch and a swim before driving towards Bundaberg where we stopped at a free camp at Sharon Gorge near Gin Gin for the night.
We chose to stay at a caravan park at Burnett Heads while in Bundaberg and after setting up the camper we went to the Bundaberg Rum Distillery to do the tour. Glen was richer but felt poorer when he was given tickets at the seniors discount price without even being asked. The tour was interesting and the tasting at the end was excellent - Glen fairing a little better than Julie as she was driving and gave him three quarters of her tasting vouchers. Of course we came away with a couple of bottles (not any cheaper but you can't buy the liqueurs in a bottle shop) but there are no photos inside the tour as phones and cameras and even hearing aids and pacemakers are apparently a fire risk.
During the next day we went to the beach and explored the coastal area down to Elliott Heads. After dinner we went to the Mon Repos Turtle Discovery where we had to arrive at 6:45pm for a 7pm start. After an intro talk we were assigned our groups and we set about the task of waiting. After a bit of a shop for souvenirs and coffee and a short video and more of a wait we were called to the boardwalk where we expected to go to the beach but the turtle turned tail and returned to the sea. We went back to sit down and wait. At about 10 we were called to the boardwalk again and got lucky as we were taken onto the beach. Without any lights and with the moon not risen it was very dark and we were worried we'd walk right past the turtle but soon we could see two lines running across the beach. It was plain as day so we needn't have been worried about missing it. These tracks were the false start turtle who came up and went back to the water. Further up the beach we were lead into the dune to where a flat back turtle was just completing her egg chamber. Once she started to lay torches were allowed and we could see the eggs dropping about 15 seconds apart. The volunteers and rangers scanned her for a tag and replaced her flipper tags which had been lost. The old fashioned metal tags are still required in case she comes up on a beach without a ranger with a scanner or is found dead somewhere. From the tag information we learnt that this turtle lives nearby in Morton Bay and laid here 2 years ago. Turtles that live close by breed more often as they don't need massive recovery times like a turtle that travels 4 months to their breeding ground. This was the first time she laid this season. She finished laying and started covering the egg chamber then attempted to make her way back to the water. She had chosen the top of the first dune and it was quite steep to get up. She was having trouble getting back down. The ranger guided the turtle with a light to help her find her way. We escorted her to the water and watched as she swam off.
Since flat backs are fairly rare here with only 6 females last year the nest was dug up and the eggs were counted (64) and 10 were weighed. We got to touch an egg to see how soft the shell is. Since it was a good nesting site they just put the eggs back in the same hole and reburied them. They should hatch in 2 months.
The next morning we packed up and left the caravan park but what trip to Bundaberg would be complete without a tour of the Bundaberg Ginger Beer Factory? Ok it's a virtual tour but interesting and the tastings at the end are real. It's also much cheaper as it only cost us $12.50 for the both of us. Of course we ended up buying a few bottles.
For lunch we went to the park near the free zoo and then visited the zoo. The council has done an excellent job in providing this facility free of charge to everyone.
Our next stop was past Gin Gin at Boolboonda Tunnel. Constructed in 1883-4 this 192m of unsupported tunnel through granite was all dug by hand, both ends at the same time and they met in the middle! The tunnel is home to a colony of bent wing bats who took to the air as we drove through on our way to Mount Perry, a really nice little town with a great view of the valley from the lookout. We went back the tarred road to the free camp outside Gin Gin where Glen lowered the cane toad population by 7 or 8. This has been the worse place for cane toads in Queensland which in spite of being ground zero has less cane toads than the Kimberly.
On the road the next morning we stopped for a coffee in Childers on our way out to Hervey Bay where we visited a few beaches along the way. Incredibly low prices for houses. For under $400,000 you can have a nice house next to the beach or a 4 bedroom place with a pool just a short walk or drive to the beach. We took a long walk on the shortened Urangang Pier and camped in the state forest near Poona. It rained overnight.
The following day we packed up wet for only the second time this trip. We were on the road early because we were going to Tin Can Bay to see the Australian Humpback Dolphin feeding. Australian Humpbacks are down to a population of only 80-120 animals. They live and feed in the estuary around Tin Can Bay. For $5 you can watch or for $10 you can feed the dolphins. Glen chose the former and Julie the latter. After the feeding of the dolphins it was the feeding of the humans and we had coffee and a bite to eat at the café there before going on a walk.
We drove towards Rainbow Beach and Inskip Point where we decided to camp for a day - or 3 as it turned out. We camped at MV Beagle Campground which last year made the news as a large sink hole opened up and swallowed a 4wd, caravan and camper trailer. Apparently they are still down there somewhere but the hole has filled in. We camped next to the beach with a view across to Fraser Island which is just 3km across the channel. All at $6.15 per person per night! We had a swim and set up the camper and the shower bag and that night after a relaxing hot shower we sat around the fire. Yep, it was good!
Over the next couple of days we swam, read, relaxed, went for drives and walks and rescued a sea snake. One morning Glen even paddled over to Fraser Island and brought Julie a hand full of sand.